Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 7 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Western
St. Joseph, Mo. | Spratt Stadium
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Sunday, Sept. 29 | 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Northwest Missouri State vs Northeastern State
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Pitch
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The Northwest Missouri State women's soccer team kicks off MIAA conference play this week, starting with a road test against Missouri Western on Wednesday, followed by a Senior Day showdown at home against Northeastern State on Sunday.
 
Last week, Emily Yakle provided a game-winning goal in the 70th minute to propel Northwest over Augustana, 1-0. 
 
Match Notes: Missouri Western
Northwest (2-1-3 overall) heads into a busy two-game week, starting with a short trip to St. Joseph, Mo., to take on the unbeaten Missouri Western Griffons (5-0-1 overall) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The Griffons are riding a hot streak, coming off three straight wins last week, including victories over Sioux Falls (2-1), Rockhurst (3-1), and Missouri S&T (1-0).

Head-to-Head:
The Bearcats hold a 17-9-7 all-time advantage against Missouri Western. In their last meeting on October 29 of last season, Northwest came out on top with a 2-0 win in St. Joseph.

The Griffons are powered by senior forward Lauren Nylund, who has netted four of the team's eleven goals this season. Nylund earned all-MIAA Third Team honors last season. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg has been solid between the posts, with five starts, 12 saves, and one shutout against Bemidji State. Kroonenberg's standout performance came on Sept. 8, when she made seven saves in a 0-0 draw against Northern State.
 
Last five matchups vs. MWSU
10/29/23 – W, 2-0 (A)
9/15/23 – T, 1-1 (H)
10/23/22 – W, 1-0 (H)
9/9/22 – T, 0-0 (A)
10/29/21 – W, 2-0 (A)
 
Match Notes: Northeastern State
Northwest returns home for a Sunday Senior Day contest with Northeastern State. The match is set for 1 p.m. at Bearcat Pitch, as the Bearcats (2-1-3 overall) aim to defend home turf against the unbeaten RiverHawks (6-0 overall). 
 
Northeastern State enters the weekend off two recent victories, defeating East Central (2-1) and Missouri Southern (3-1). Before facing the Bearcats, the RiverHawks will take on Central Missouri on Friday. 
 
Head-to-Head:
Northeastern State has dominated the historical series with a 10-6-1 record against Northwest. However, the Bearcats claimed a crucial 2-0 win in Tahlequah during their last meeting on October 10 of last season. A win on Sunday would give the Bearcats their third straight victory over Northeastern State.
 
Last five matchups vs NSU
10/20/23 – W, 2-0 (A)
10/14/22 – W, 1-0 (H)
10/17/21 – L, 2-1 (A)
10/20/19 – L, 2-1 (H)
10/21/18 – L, 2-1 (H)
 
Before the game, Northwest will honor seniors Yesenia Arnau (Kansas City, Mo.), Lucia Fernandez (Zaragoza, Spain), Siri Ott (Waverly, Iowa), Emily Yakle (Liberty, Mo.), Sydney Mueller (Gretna, Neb.), Ashton Dain (Olathe, Kan.), Linsi Mashburn (Lee Summit, Mo.), Adell Gore (Bonner Springs, Kan.), Abigail Lawrence (Olathe, Kan.), and Darrian Gordon (Maryville, Mo.).
 
Additional Notes:
Head Coach Marc Gordon is in his seventh year leading Northwest's soccer program. Under his leadership, the Bearcats have had three consecutive winning seasons, compiling a 21-7-5 record in MIAA play over the last three years. Last season, they finished 8-5-6 and reached the MIAA quarterfinals before losing to Emporia State.
  
Northwest's 2024 team captains are senior Ashton Dain (Olathe, Kan.), junior Moira Franck (Monument, Colo.), and senior Sydney Mueller (Gretna, Neb.). The squad features a veteran core with ten seniors on the roster.
 
Sophomore Ekaterina Theoharidis leads the team with seven points, 18 shots, and 11 shots on goal. She's tied with Ximena Arnau for the team lead in goals, with both players scoring three so far this season. Arnau has already matched her goal total from last year in just five games. Senior Emily Yakle notched her first career goal with a game-winner against Augustana on Sept. 18. 
 
Junior goalkeeper Lily Ellis has started five of the Bearcats' six games this season, making 37 saves and posting a 1-1-3 record. Ellis recorded a season-high 12 saves against Grand Valley State. She now ranks sixth in Bearcat history with 195 career saves, one save away from cracking the top five. 
 
Both Ellis and Arnau were named MIAA Athletes of the Week (9/17/24) for their performances during that week. Arnau (Kansas City, Mo.) has been named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her early career. Arnau had an impressive week, scoring three goals, including the game-winning goal, in a 3-1 victory against Southwest Baptist. She netted two goals in that win and contributed Northwest's only goal in a 1-1 draw against No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State. Over the course of three matches and 240 minutes of play, Arnau took 11 shots, with four on target. 

Ellis (Kearney, Mo.) captured her fifth MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week award. Ellis recorded her 22nd career shutout with seven saves in a 0-0 draw against No. 15-ranked Minnesota State. On Friday, she tallied 12 saves and allowed just one goal in a 1-1 tie against No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State. Ellis now ranks No. 6 in Bearcat history with 188 career saves.
 
Career Saves
1. 394 - Kelsey Adams, 2010-13
2. 339 - Kathie Leach, 1999-01
3. 306 - Alison Sheridan, 2003-06
4. 204 - Ashley Malloy, 2014-17
5. 196 - Kira Lazenby, 2008-09
6. 195 – Lily Ellis, 2022-pres. 
7. 174 - Alexis Serna Castillo, 2018-21
8. 156 - Michelle Goold, 2002, 04-05
9. 108 - Danielle Lawless, 2001-03
10. 77 - Ashley Williams, 2020-21
 
Northwest stays put at No. 6 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Central Region poll. 
 
United Soccer Coaches' NCAA Div. II Central Region Poll (Sept.24)
1. Central Missouri
2. Minnesota State
3. Washburn
4. Northeastern State
5. Concordia- St. Paul
6. Northwest Missouri State
7. St. Cloud State
8. Missouri Western
9. Central Oklahoma
10. Bemidji State
 
Northwest is picked to finish fourth in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, receiving 99 points in the voting to edge out Emporia State by one point for the fourth spot. 
 
2024 MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Washburn [9] – 137 points 
2. Central Missouri [3] – 131 points
3. Fort Hays State – 112 points
4. Northwest Missouri State – 99 points
5. Emporia State – 98 points
6. Missouri Western [1] – 86 points
7. Central Oklahoma – 82 points
8. Northeastern State – 77 points
9. Rogers State – 58 points
10. Nebraska Kearney – 46 points
11. Pittsburg State – 39 points
12. Newman – 29 points
13. Missouri Southern – 20 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes
4-8